GWI calls for patience as works continue to improve water quality in GT

Weeks after residents in Georgetown have been complaining of extremely poor water quality, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is pleading with them to continue to exercise patience as it works to address the situation.
GWI’s technical teams are aggressively flushing the Shelterbelt network to improve the clarity of the water.
While some areas such as Stabroek, Regent Street, Hadfield and Alberttown are showing high levels of water clarity, other areas at the further end of the distribution network including Kitty and Charlestown are experiencing gradual improvements.
The water company was hoping to resolve the issue by August 18, however during the flushing of the network, it encountered difficulties.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh on Thursday explained that aged Drainage and Irrigation infrastructure in the affected areas are preventing GWI teams from flushing the sediment out of the pipeline, thus increasing work time.
In this regard, he is urging citizens to be patient, noting that works are almost complete.
“Because of the flushing that’s taking place in some areas, it’s very difficult given the old pipelines and so on, and the sludge that has lodged here, it’s taken longer to extract the water, flush out the water from the system. So, it has improved considerably across the central Georgetown area, but there’s ongoing works happening now. We’ve almost completed our cleaning in the shelter belt, some additional cleaning is taking place, and then we’re still doing some flushing,” the CEO said.
Baksh added that in some areas, water was cut off due to blockages, and these issues are not related to GWI’s current operation.
Nevertheless, he said additional teams have been deployed to bring relief to those residents.
“Albouystown, we were there last evening, and Albouystown has improved. There was a problem with some residents not receiving water, but this was due not to the pressure from us, but because there were blockages in the, what we call the saddle, in the pipelines below. About seven residents are affected, and we are addressing that now to dig down there and clean out the pipeline so they can get water,” he explained.
The high levels of sediment at GWI Shelter Belt canals were first recognised on July 15, but according to Baksh, it was not severe at the time.
A preliminary investigation into its cause revealed that the issue occurred when GWI dredged the East Demerara water conservancy, causing a buildup of sludge that contaminated its Shelterbelt, resulting in the distribution of the ‘rusty and unhealthy’ water.
Upon this discovery, GWI hired additional labour to clean the canals while technicians in the laboratory conducted daily tests to monitor the quality of water being accessed.

Annual cleaning
The water quality of the Shelter Belt plant would usually be around 15 to 20 units but with the current occurrence, it went up to 400 units.
The plant is usually cleaned once a year, however, due to the existing situation, GWI has indicated that its team will begin cleaning the system every six to eight months.
Baksh explained that while the current issue is totally beyond the company’s control and there is a need for greater coordination between East Demerara water conservancy and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.